2008 Canberra Raiders season

2008 was the Canberra Raiders' 27th season in the National Rugby League competition. The Raiders began the year favourites to win the wooden spoon.[1] However, they finished 6th (out of 16) and were eliminated in the first week of the finals.

2008 Canberra Raiders season
NRL Rank6th
Play-off resultLost in qualifying final
(Cronulla Sharks, 36–10)
2008 recordWins: 13; Draws: 0; Losses: 11
Points scoredFor: 650; Against: 563
Team information
CEODon Furner
CoachNeil Henry
Captain
StadiumCanberra Stadium
Avg. Attend.11,913
High. Attend.15,550
Top scorers
TriesAdrian Purtell (15)
GoalsTodd Carney (46)
PointsTerry Campese (120)
< 2007 List of seasons 2009 >

Season summary

The 2008 season started with some promise for the Raiders – a good showing despite a loss in round 1 vs. Newcastle was followed up with two solid wins against Penrith and St. George-Illawarra. The club has since suffered a series of losses, whilst snaring only the occasional victory, with a big come from behind victory against Wests being noteworthy. In the representative field, Todd Carney and Joel Monaghan picked for Country Origin, and Monaghan being a shadow player for the New South Wales Side. However, as in recent seasons, injuries have been the curse of the Canberra club, with no less than three players suffering dreaded ACL ruptures, arguably the worst kind of injury a footballer can receive, essentially ending their season. Worse, the three players afflicted, Will Zillman, Lincoln Withers and Phil Graham are amongst the Raiders best players. Compounding this, talented back-rowers Neville Costigan and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs have spent minimal time on the field due to recurring minor injuries. The club has also suffered badly in the recruiting race, with Zillman and strong front rower Michael Weyman opting to go elsewhere next season, with indications that Costigan and Scott Logan will do the same. Additionally, half Michael Dobson left the club mid-season for the English club Hull KR, due to lack of opportunities in Canberra. Finally, Coach Neil Henry has exercised a get-out clause in his contract, and will coach the North-Queensland Cowboys in 2009, with former player and club legend, but inexperienced coach, David Furner taking over in 2009. To date, beyond a few talented youngsters, the club is yet to procure a single player of note for season 2009, and will once again be forced to rely on youthful talent. At Round 13, Canberra sat well outside the eight, and the season looked as though it could end with a whimper.

However, far from fading away, the Raiders bounced back with a comprehensive victory over the Brisbane Broncos and then proceeded to thrash the Canterbury Bulldogs, inflicting the worst loss on the Sydney-based club in over half a century. Despite successive losses to the Cronulla Sharks and defending premiers Melbourne Storm, Canberra fought hard in both games, then broke a 13-year losing streak in Wollongong (and ended a 7 match winning streak by the home team) with an impressive win over St. George-Illawarra. The season highlight, however, was a comprehensive 34–12 win over league leaders, the Sydney Roosters. With 7 rounds left in the 2008 premiership, Canberra sits just one point outside the top eight. With a comparatively friendly draw, playing several teams below them on the table, the Raiders are poised to sneak into the semi-finals for the first time in two years. After a comprehensive 74–12 win over the Panthers the Raiders moved into an unexpected 6th spot on the ladder from 11th to almost cement a spot in the 2008 finals series with 4 games remaining.

The Raiders went closer to the top eight with two important wins against Newcastle and Souths. They are now on a three-match winning streak with 2 games remaining.

The season has not been without controversy, however, with star halfback Todd Carney and fullback Bronx Goodwin being stood down by the club after an altercation at a Canberra nightclub following the round 19 win against the Roosters. Carney was eventually dismissed by the club after failing to agree to the punishment plan the club had laid out for him, Goodwin's future is still to be determined.

As of 6 September 2008, despite a heavy injury toll, the Raiders are guaranteed a place in the NRL 2008 Finals Series, a feat which was at the start of the season impossible according to Rugby League punditry in Australia.

The Raiders semi-final appearance was brief, however. After being defeated by the Cronulla Sharks, the Raiders 6th-place finish was considered to be enough to get them a second chance. However, a huge upset with 8th-place New Zealand defeating minor premiers Melbourne saw the Raiders eliminated.

Season results

Trial Games
RoundOpponentResultCan.Opp.DateVenueCrowdPosition
Trial MatchGold Coast TitansWin342816 FebIpswichN/A
Trial MatchBrisbane BroncosWin321623 FebWade Park8,500N/A
Trial MatchNorth Queensland CowboysLoss20321 MarMackayN/A
NRL Regular Season Games
1Newcastle KnightsLoss143015 MarEnergy Australia Stadium17,23314/16
2Penrith PanthersWin201622 MarCUA Stadium7,50312/16
3St George Illawarra DragonsWin211429 MarCanberra Stadium14,4008/16
4Gold Coast TitansLoss12325 AprSkilled Park17,38111/16
5 (1989 League
Legends Cup)
Wests TigersWin302413 AprCanberra Stadium12,2406/16
6
(Heritage Round)
Melbourne StormLoss162321 AprCanberra Stadium15,55011/16
7BYE25–27 Apr9/16
8New Zealand WarriorsLoss6144 MayMount Smart Stadium7,35811/16
9Sydney RoostersLoss43010 MaySydney Football Stadium10,24113/16
10South Sydney RabbitohsWin381019 MayCanberra Stadium11,15510/16
11BYE23–26 May10/16
12Manly Sea EaglesLoss183130 MayCanberra Stadium13,12011/16
13Parramatta EelsLoss12307 JunParramatta Stadium10,19512/16
14Brisbane BroncosWin341615 JunCanberra Stadium11,15712/16
15Canterbury BulldogsWin581821 JunANZ Stadium9,84510/16
16Cronulla SharksLoss243630 JunCanberra Stadium9,13611/16
17Melbourne StormLoss14306 JulOlympic Park11,71912/16
18St George Illawarra DragonsWin191213 JulWIN Stadium14,04011/16
19Sydney RoostersWin341220 JulCanberra Stadium13,4179/16
20Gold Coast TitansWin46426 JulCanberra Stadium8,7008/16
21Brisbane BroncosLoss6343 AugSuncorp Stadium28,10310/16
22Penrith PanthersWin741210 AugCanberra Stadium6,5006/16
23Newcastle KnightsWin381817 AugCanberra Stadium12,2066/16
24South Sydney RabbitohsWin402524 AugANZ Stadium10,1286/16
25North Queensland CowboysLoss102230 AugDairy Farmers Stadium14,9857/16
26Canterbury BulldogsWin52347 SepCanberra Stadium15,4116/16
NRL Finals Games
QFCronulla SharksLoss103613 SepToyota Stadium18,562N/A
ColourResult
GreenWin
RedLoss
YellowGolden point Win
BlueBye

Toyota Cup (Under 20s)

The Raiders' Toyota Cup team won 28–24 over the Broncos' team in golden point extra time to with the Toyota Cup (Under 20s) premiership in the lead-up game to the NRL Grand Final on 5 October 2008[2]

Club Awards

Award Winner
Mal Meninga Medal Joel Monaghan
Coaches Award Dane Tilse
Rookie of the Year Glen Buttriss
Fred Daly Memorial Clubman of the Year Trophy Terry Campese
National Youth Competition Player of the Year Shaun Fensom
National Youth Competition Coaches Award Joel Thompson
Gordon McLucas Memorial Award (Junior representative player of the year) Justin Carney
Geoff Caldwell Memorial Award (Vocational Encouragement) Brendon Wheatley

Squad

Run-on Team

Canberra Raiders Run-on Team
8 Troy Thompson 9 Ryan Hinchcliffe 10 Dane Tilse
11 Marshall Chalk 12 Joe Picker
13 Alan Tongue(c)
7 Marc Herbert
6 Terry Campese
4 Joel Monaghan
3 Adrian Purtell
5 Justin Carney 2 Colin Best
1 David Milne

Ladders

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne 2417072584282+30238
2 Manly-Warringah 2417072645355+29038
3 Cronulla 2417072451384+6738
4 Sydney Roosters 2415092511446+6534
5 Brisbane 2414192560452+10833
6 Canberra 24130112640527+11330
7 St. George Illawarra 24130112489378+11130
8 New Zealand 24130112502567-6530
9 Newcastle 24120122516486+3028
10 Wests Tigers 24110132528560-3226
11 Parramatta 24110132501547-4626
12 Penrith 24101132504611-10725
13 Gold Coast 24100142476586-11024
14 South Sydney 2480162453666-21320
15 North Queensland 2450192474638-16414
16 Bulldogs 2450192433782-34914
2008 Toyota Cup season
Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Canberra 2418062744581+16340
2 Brisbane 2415182684476+20835
3 New Zealand 2414372721533+18835
4 Penrith 2415182692583+10935
5 Parramatta 2414372578564+1435
6 St. George Illawarra 2413292561520+4132
7 Bulldogs 2412392711587+12431
8 Gold Coast 24131102686567+11931
9 Wests Tigers 24130112620623-330
10 South Sydney 24112112618584+3428
11 Manly 24110132519532-1326
12 Newcastle 2481152526630-10421
13 Melbourne 2481152512638-12621
14 Cronulla 2461172394666-27217
15 Sydney 2460182480721-24116
16 North Queensland 2443172455696-24115

References

  1. AAP (3 April 2008). "Rabbits firm as wooden spoon tip". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  2. Raiders snatch golden point premiership, Canberra Raiders, 5 October 2008.
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